DENVER  Jaff Decker had only two plate appearances and was around only three days during his first two trips to the major leagues with the Padres in June.

But the 23-year-old outfielder thought the experience was “invaluable” and set the stage for his first major league hit (a home run) Monday night at Coors Field.

“Those first two trips opened my mind and eyes a bit,” Decker said Wednesday afternoon. “Yonder Alonso was on the disabled list at the time and spent a lot of time with me on the bench telling me what I needed to know and how to prepare myself.

“It even helped me when I went back to (Triple-A) Tucson. I adjusted to an older staff and changed my approach a bit.”

From the time Decker last returned to Tucson on June 20 to when he returned to the Padres last Saturday, Decker hit .333 for the T-Padres with five home runs and 20 RBIs to raise his season average to .293 with nine homers and 38 RBIs.

“We talked a lot about how you approach the game and at-bats,” said Alonso. “I remember when I first came up and when I first hit some walls earlier in my career. It can be overwhelming for a young player.

“Jaff has a great attitude. He’s a guy who wants to learn. I think he did a lot with the information we talked about on his swing and the mental side of the game.”

Decker’s first major league hit/home run into the right field stands was retrieved by Rockies relief pitcher Manny Corpas, who knew it was both Decker’s first hit and first major league homer.

Sadly, Decker’s father Kent did not see the home run. Kent Decker had been to each of his son’s first four major league games. But

Black speaks out

The Padres heard some harsh words from manager Bud Black during the ninth inning of Monday night’s 14-2 loss to the Rockies.

Black’s “talk” was picked up by Fox Sports San Diego.

“I heard from some viewers,” Black said Tuesday.

Black said he has had between “five and 10” full-squad, closed-door, attitude-adjustment meetings during his seven seasons as the Padres manager.

“This was a different version,” said Black, who addressed the team after they looked particularly bad during a six-run Rockies eighth inning coming out of a 63-minute rain delay.

Black did not discuss what was said, although the club’s lackluster play Monday night and a terrible run of situational hitting capped by a 1-for-17 in Sunday’s 3-2, 13-inning loss in Cincinnati had to be among the topics.

Quentin update

Black said he expects left fielder Carlos Quentin to play again this season, although he is not sure when.

“Carlos is in a situation where it is hard to do any baseball activities,” said Black. “It’s painful on running or defense.”

Black said his cleanup hitter is at least four to five days away from testing his right knee in activities like running.

Before going on the disabled list, Quentin was running every day in hopes of playing. He said his knee feels better since he’s given it four days rest.

No changes, yet

Black said the Padres starting rotation will remain the same for at least another week, meaning Edinson Volquez will make at least one more start. But the right-hander could be on shaky ground as the Padres look to 2014.

Volquez’s days with the Padres are numbered one way or another. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

Black said that before the season is over the Padres could use a “some pitchers we’ve seen before and maybe a couple we haven’t” and possibly go to a six-man rotation.